Fire-ladder



(No Model.) 2 shqt sheet 1.

D. B. MQHENRY. FIRE LADDER.

No. 512,052. Patented Jan. 2, 1894.

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(No Model.) 2"Sheets-Sheet 2.

1 D. B. MOHENRY.

FIRE LADDER.

'No. 512,052 Patented Jan; 2', 18-94.

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UNITED STATE DAVID MOHENRY, on

PATENT, Onnrcn- GRENADA, MISSISSIPPI.

FIRE-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 512,052, dated January 2, 1894.

Application filed August 15, 1893 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID B. MOHENRY, of Grenada, in the county of Grenada and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and My proved Fire-Ladder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

ing set up at various inclinations.

The invention consists of certain features of construction and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which similar figures of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved fire ladder. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4is adetail longitudinal section showing the means for elevating the ladder and inclining it, on the line 44 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the springs for supporting the ladder frame; and Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the truck and ladder frame with the lazy tongs in a folded position.

1 is a frame which is supported on wheels 2 and forms a truck for the fire ladder. The frame 1 is provided with bearings 3, located centrally at the ends thereof, and the said bearings are adapted to receive a spiudle4, which is provided with two portions 5 and 6, respectively, which are screw threaded in opposite directions. By reference to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that the portion of the spindle 4 which is adjacent to the bearings 3 is not threaded. Another frame 7-is supported by 1 means of bearings 8 through which passes the spindle 4 and further by means of set screws. 9 which engage with the frame 1.

Sockets 10 are secured to the frames 1 and 7 respectively, one of the said sockets being adapted to slide within the other and springs 11 are held in the said sockets and aid in supporting the frame7 upon the frame 1. Springs 12 are coiled on the spindle 4 on the inner side of the bearings 8. Guide rods 13 extend Serial No. 483,166. (No model.)

to the end bars thereof. Gross bars 14 are located about at the center of the frame 7, and each of the cross bars is provided withabearing through which passes the spindle 4.

On the threaded portion of the spindle 4 are adapted to travel two cross bars or bridges 15 provided with female threaded sockets 16, and adapted to engage the guide rod 13. To the outer ends of the said cross bars 15 are pivotally connected the lower members of a set of lazy tongs 17, each of the said lower members being preferably formed with an arched lower end, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The points of intersection of the lazy tongs are indicated by reference numeral 18 and the pivots connecting the ends of two lazy tongs by the reference numeral 19. The pivots 18 are formed with T-shaped extensions 20, as best shown in Fig.3, and between may be hung by means of hooks, as is shown at 21 in Figs. 1 and 2. Guy ropes 22 are provided for steadying the frame against lateral oscillations. The screw spindle 4 may be rotated by means of a handle 23. v

The operation is as follows: When the lazy tongs 17 are in afolded position,shown in Fig. 8, the sockets 16 do not engage with the screw threaded portions 5 and 6, respectively of the spindle 4. They are however, kept in contact with the last thread of the said spindle by means of the springs 12. When the handle 23 is turned, the revolution of the spindle 4 will cause the sockets 16 and cross bars 15 to travel toward one another, and the lazy tongs 17 will be gradually extended till the position shown in Fig. 1 is attained. \Vhile the lazy tongs are'being extended the ladder sections 21 are gradually hung on the extensions 20, when the same are at a proper height. In order to incline the lazy tongs with the ladder transversely to the truck, the screws 9 are turned so as to cause the frame 7 to assume an angular position in relation to the frame 1. When the lazy tongs are again folded together, the ladder sections are successively removed. It will be observed that the Weight of the lazy tongs will be supported entirely or nearly so by the guide rods 13, and

only a very slight strain will be exerted on the adjusting spindle 4 so as to prevent the longitudinally of the frame 7 and are secured the ends of these extensions, ladder sections screw threads on the spindle from breaking ofi or wearing-ofi rapidly.

A single or a double set of lazy tongs may be employed to support the ladder sections.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. The combination with the truck frame and the essentially horizontal spindle extending longitudinally thereof, of a ladder frame pivoted on the said spindle whereby the ladder frame may be inclined transversely in relation of the truck frame, means for holding the ladder frame in position relatively to the truck frame, and a set of ladder-carrying lazy tongs, the lower members whereof are constructed to move longitudinally of the ladder frame when the lazy tongs are extended or collapsed whereby when the ladder frame is inclined transversely of the truck frame, the lazy tongs and the ladder will be inclined forwardly or rearwardly, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a truck frame, of the ladder frame capable of being tilted transversely thereto, and supporting springs located between the truck frame and the ladder frame, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination with the ladder frame,

of the screw spindle journaled thereon, said spindle being provided with two oppositely-V nected with screw threaded sockets adapted to engage the threads on the adjusting spindle, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the ladder frame, and the adjusting spindle thereon, of a set of ladder-carrying lazy tongs having arched lower members, guide rods extending parallel with the adjusting spindle at each side thereof, and bridges having guided movement on the said rods and connected with the lower members of the lazy tongs, said bridges being provided with sockets engaging the adjusting spindle, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a fire ladder, a set of lazy tongs provided at their points of intersections with pivots having extensions on which ladder sections may be hung, substantially as described.

DAVID B. McHENRY. Witnesses: J. B. YANOEY, J. H. LUoAs. 

